OXFORD United’s stunning week continued as they cruised to a third big victory in succession.

The winning margin was the smallest of the three, but Karl Robinson’s side took their tally to 13 as Gillingham were swatted aside.

All the damage was done before half-time, with James Henry taking the starring role.

The midfielder picked out the top corner to get United up and running, before glancing a tremendous header for the third.

In between he set up Matty Taylor, who bagged his third goal in as many games.

Aside from a self-inflicted scare at the start of the second half, the U’s were rarely troubled defensively on the way to a fifth straight clean sheet – the first time they have managed that as a Football League club since 2002.

And coming on the back of big wins over Lincoln City and West Ham, it was an impressively consistent display from a side who are full of confidence.

Despite the midweek cup success over West Ham, boss Karl Robinson kept faith with the side which had beaten Lincoln City 6-0 a week earlier.

The one change to the XI saw Taylor replaces Jamie Mackie, while the return of Henry, John Mousinho and Alex Gorrin meant there was no place on the bench for Mark Sykes.

United’s confidence was there for all to see early on, with Rob Dickie spraying a classy pass out wide.

And it did not take long for the hosts to trouble the scorers.

A tenth-minute Gillingham corner was cleared and Tariqe Fosu did superbly to dribble out of trouble outside his own box.

Helped by referee Andy Woolmer playing advantage, United surged forward with Ben Woodburn. He found Henry, who used Chris Cadden’s run as a decoy before curling an inch-perfect shot from the edge of the box into Jack Bonham’s top-left corner.

The Gillingham keeper was kept busy. He kept out Woodburn’s fierce 20-yard drive, before making an outstanding save in the same corner to deny John Mousinho’s textbook downward header at a corner.

The visitors looked rattled and did not trouble Eastwood at all in the first half.

Instead, United kept the hammer down and struck twice in four minutes to build a commanding lead by half-time.

Taylor doubled the lead with a classic striker’s finish, racing on to a through ball and calmly slotting past Bonham. The assist had come from Henry, who had slipped as he played the pass.

After feeling the win at Lincoln had come thanks to a couple of “lucky” goals, Gillingham boss Steve Evans would have no doubt made a note of another slice of fortune for United.

A third goal quickly followed – and there was nothing flukey about it.

Taylor was involved and found Josh Ruffels. His cross found Henry, who worked wonders to flick a header high into the net despite being ahead of the near post.

The goal took him clear as United’s top-scorer for the season and he might have had a hat-trick before half-time.

After Bonham saved his low strike at the end of another powerful attack, Henry struck the woodwork in first-half stoppage time after being played in by Taylor.

United had been a joy to watch, but almost shot themselves in the foot within a minute of the restart.

Eastwood made an ill-judged attempt to shepherd the ball out and had his pocked picked by Brandon Hanlan. He cut back for Ollie Lee, who under pressure hit the post with the empty goal gaping.

Lee was half of a double substitution at half-time for the visitors, while Rob Dickie also came off after appearing to pick up a knock in the first half.

United quickly reasserted themselves, Taylor volleying over from Cadden’s cross after more good work from Henry and Woodburn.

Bonham then saved from Brannagan following some outstanding build-up play in tight areas which had the home fans purring.

United had the luxury of rotating their side late on, with Gillingham looking happy enough to limit the score.

It made for a low-key finish, but the points had long since been wrapped up.

Oxford Utd (4-3-3): Eastwood, Cadden, Dickie (Moore HT), Mousinho, Ruffels, Gorrin (Baptiste 68), Brannagan, Woodburn, Henry, Taylor (Mackie 82), Fosu.

Unused subs: Stevens, Long, Forde, Hall.

Booked: Brannagan.

Gillingham (3-5-2): Bonham, Tucker (Marshall HT), Ehmer, Ogilvie, Fuller, Jones, Byrne, Pringle (O’Keefe 79), O’Connor, Hanlan, Jakubiak (Lee HT).

Unused subs: Royce, Mandron, Ndjoli, Charles-Cook.

Booked: Fuller, Ehmer.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 6,553 (483 visitors).